updated 04:05 pm EDT, Mon October 6, 2008

AT&T to stop GoPhone data

A recent report reveals AT&T will stop offering its $20 per month prepaid unlimited data plan on November 12. As part of the wireless network provider's GoPhone service, the plan was the cheapest offered anywhere for access to unlimited data on fast 3G networks. AT&T officially explains the discontinuation as the end of a trial and the company is now looking into other prepaid data offerings. Critics argue that AT&T was losing data plan subscribers, who saved money by switching to the pre-paid GoPhone option.

AT&T has not announced what similar, or if any, pre-paid data plans it would offer in place of the unlimited $20 GoPhone deal, although it will likely be much costlier. If no pre-paid plans are offered, users will have no choice but to turn to AT&T's post-paid data plans or pre-paid plans from competitors, though both options are more expensive.